Wagon-body.



2 SHEETS--SHEET 1.

J. W. A. BIRD.

WAGON BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2o` 1909.

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lo INVENTOR JOHN 1407.169.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES: zz m f l ADREW n MAMMA ou, Puma-mummia WASMNGTBN. n@

J.` W. A. BIRD.

WAGON BODY.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1909.

Patented Mar. 29,- 1910.

INVENTOR n. m. B A.. w M w WITNES'SES.' 1:11,? im

ATTORNEY UNTTET T JOI-IN W. A. BIRD, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA.

WAGONLBODY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

Application led January 2G, 1909. Serial No. 473,306.

To all whom tt may concern.'

Be it known that I, J or-IN W. A. BIRD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Muncie, in the county of Delaware, State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tagen-Bodies, of which invention I declare the following to be a specification.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in wagon bodies and has for its principal object to provide a device whereby the ordinary box form of wagon body may be easily and quickly transformed into the platform type of bed.

Further and more specific objects are to provide a device of the kind referred to which may be easy of op-eration, easily applied to use, and which will be of simple construction, economical of manufacture, and durable.

Corresponding parts are indicated by similar characters throughout the several views in the drawings, in which- Figure l and Fig. 2 are plan views of a wagon body equipped with my invention, in

the latter view the wagon body having been transformed into a platform bed. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 is an end view of my invention, the support arm being in the position occupied when the box form of wagon bed is formed. Fig. 5 is a side view, and Fig. A6 is a perspective view, showing the support arm in the position occupied when the platform style of wagon bed is formed, in the latter view the wooden parts of the wagon bed being not shown. Fig. 7 is a side view of a portion of the support arm showing the manner of securing the gate guide thereto. Fig. S is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8 8 Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 9-9 Fig. 3, and Fig. l0 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 10-10 Fig. 3. Fig. 1l is a detached detail view showing the bolt F and a portion of the base block A. Fig. 12 shows a modification of my invention.

The base block A of my invention is made of malleable iron or steel and is of the general conformation as shown most plainly in Fig. G, the top portion A1 and the side walls and end wall are of suitable thickness to be of substantial strength, and connecting the side walls at their bottom edges are the webs A2. The function of the perforations B in the top portion A1 and in the webs A2, is the reception of the bolts C, as will be more fully referred to hereinafter. The opening B1 is provided in the top portion A1, so that the nails that are passed through the iooring may be driven into the sill that will fill the interior of the base block as will presently be referred to.

Formed integral with the side walls and near to their upper' edges are the studs D.

E designates a lug provided upon the lower and outer portion of the side walls, so formed as to provide the recess El.

F designates a pin which is supported in a suitable bore A3 therefore in the base block, there being suflicient stock provided for a solid bearing for said pin, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 3. This pin has the shoulder Fl and the shoulderl F2 and screwed down on the threaded shank F3 is the flanged nut G.

H designates a cotter pin adapted to be passed through a perforation in the shank F3 as shown in Fig. ll.

The support arm J is made of malleable iron or steel, the body portion being U shaped in cross section. The legs J1 stand such distance apart as that they will engage with proper clearance, the opposite sides of the base block. n each of the legs J1 is provided a cam slot K, and the recess L, and each of the said legs has the nose J2.

My invention complete and in readiness to be placed in practical operative position, appears as shown in Fig. 6. It is very easily applied to use, it being necessary only to trim or shape the end of the sill of the wagon bed so that the base block may be slipped onto same. While it may be desirable that the end of the sill may extend into the base block completely to the end wall thereof, it is only necessary that the sill shall extend into the base block a distance sufIicient that there may be passed through it both of the bolts C. Holes are bored through the sill to register with the holes B, the bolts C are then placed in position and when the nuts thereof are tightened, the base block is held rigidly in place on the end of the sill. It is Obvious that my invention may be easily secured to sills of varied dimensions. The side-boards O of the wagon bed are then secured by the bolts P to the support arms and are so placed thereon, that when the floor-boards Q, and

the side boards O are in engagement, the nose J 2 will reside in the recess El, as shown in Fig. 3.

The shape of the cam slot K is such that when the support arm is in the erect position and the nose J2 is seated in the recess El, the tendency of the weight of the support arm will be such that all of the parts will have proper bearing and will not rattle or become dislodged. If itmay be desired to secure the legs J l rigidly against the sides of ther base block the nut G is tightened. 'By the peculiar arrangement and form of this support arm the connection thereto of the side-boards is rendered very easy, as is also the connection'thereto of the gate guide It. This gate guide R consists of a channel iron of suitable `width and is connected to the side-boards and to the support arm in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 7 As shown in the boX type of wagon bed illustrated in Fig. l, theend gates S reside between the gate guides R, and the brace bolts T perform the usual function 'of bracing the structure.

To convert the boX bed into a platform bed the end gates and brace bolts are removed, then by lifting the side-boards and pressing slightly inwardly, the nose J 2 leaves the recess E1 and then the side-board may be let down and by pushing the lower side inwardly the support arms will glide easily along the cam slots K on the pin F and the recesses L will engagethe studs D. The parts all will then occupy the position as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5. The floor surface of the platform bed, will be continuous as shown, the advantage of which is obvious.

In Fig. l2 I have shown a modification wherein the nose J 2 is provided with a suitable aperture through which is passed the pin U, which pin also passes through a suitable aperture therefor inthe base block. One end of this pin has an ordinary head, and the end shown in the drawing has a transverse perforation through which is passed the cotter V which is attached to the base block by a suitable chain. In this form of my invention the pin U will be removed when it is desired to shift the position of the support arm and reinserted and retained in its place, when not in the use as shown. If the protruding bolt heads or nuts are not objectionable, the bolts C may extend completely through the floor, as shown in Fig 12.

The objects of my invention are accomplished by the foregoing described construction, combination and arrangement of parts which I have considered preferable for carrying my invention into effect. It will'be understood that Vminor changes might be 'made therein within. the scope of my in- Ving perforations therein to receive fastening means for the side boards of the wagon body, the lower portion of the said `support arm being bifurcated, the legs thereof being adapted to reside on either side of said basev block, there being oppositely disposed curved kslots in the said legs to engage said pin, and the lower ends of said legs being vadapted to reside in the said recessed lugs when the arm is in the upright position and having a recess in vtheir edges to'engage the said studs when the support arm is 1n shifteci-position, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I sign my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. A. BIRD.

Vitnes'ses THOMAS L. RYAN, ETHEL L. Lis'rnn. 

